Primus, rock music's top absurdists, to play Portsmouth this spring

Photo courtesy of Brickell and Partners

Photo courtesy of Brickell and Partners

Sam McDonald

Singer, bassist and all-around rock oddball Les Claypool will bring his mind-bending trio, Primus, back to Hampton Roads this spring. The band, which produced albums including "Sailing the Seas of Cheese," and "Pork Soda," back in the 1990s, will play Portsmouth May 21, promoters said.

What's Claypool been up to lately? Last month, he released "Four Foot Shack," which was credited to Les Claypool's Duo De Twang, his collaboration with guitarist Bryan Kehoe. The album features off-kilter, backwoods-flavored originals including reworkings of Primus favorites "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver," and "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver."

The album also includes a twisted version of "Battle of New Orleans."

Very strange, but completely in character.

Here's the news release about the show in Portsmouth.

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Primus will headline at nTelos Wireless Pavilion on Wednesday, May 21. Beats Antique opens the concert. The show starts at 8 p.m., and doors open at 7 p.m.

Primus is the rocking San Francisco trio of Les Claypool, Larry “Ler” LaLonde and Tim “Herb” Alexander. Generally acknowledged as one of the most influential bands of the past two decades, Primus is an influence on the nu-metal genre bands such as Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Pleymo. Other bands that Primus have influenced include Muse and Incubus. The band has enjoyed main performer status in many of the important music festivals since 1992.

The band’s discography has multiple notable achievements: “Frizzle Fry” in 1990 won a Bammie (Bay Area Music Award), “Sailing The Seas Of Cheese” went Platinum in 1991, as did “Pork Soda” in 1993. “Tales From The Punchbowl” in 1995 earned Gold status.

“Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” in 1996 received a Grammy Nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. Last year, “Sailing The Seas Of Cheese (Deluxe Edition)” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album.

Primus tours with the "first ever" 3D-enhanced live musical performance. Each show features Quad Surround Sound.

Beats Antique is David Satori, Zoe Jakes, and Tommy “Sidecar” Carrel. From San Francisco, the trio has steadily expanded its reach since forming in 2007. Perhaps best described as an American experimental world fusion and electronic music group. The group has become noted for its mix of different genres as well as their live shows which mix samples and heavy percussion with Tribal Fusion dance and performance art.

Last year’s “A Thousand Faces” is considered the band’s breakthrough release. Live performances of the band’s already renowned outrageous stage shows are even grander than ever as they incorporate technology and production into a multimedia spectacle.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 7 at the Pavilion Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at 800.745.3000 or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Orchestra General Admission is $50, Gold Circle seats are $40, and general admission lawn tickets are $20, including facility and service fees. There is a $3 discount with military ID or AAA membership card. Part of the Bud Light Concert Series. # # #